Paper Stationery

Wayan and her husband, Tarma quit their job as hotel housekeepers in 2003 as a result of the dramatic decline of tourists after the first Bali bomb attack. They relocated to the remote region of Bangli and started a short-lived cattle farm, using their life’s savings to purchase half a dozen cattles. The business ended when the money earned was not enough to feed the family. They tried other business ventures, too: renting out PlayStation consoles, running a “2 Dollar” shop, even making silver jewellery and weaving bamboo baskets. Like many, they came across a few dishonest buying agents and lost money. In 2006, she received technical training from a well-established buying agent and attended several of workshops on making paper journals and photo albums. In the same year, she received a bank loan of six million rupiahs to use as capital for a stationery production business. Wayan hopes that more organisations can act as a bridge between her products and the overseas market, increase the number of purchase orders and help expand her business. She wish to save most of the profits for sending her two young children to school until they are able to graduate from university.